Tuesday, April 30, 2013

When it comes to cloud computing, this kind of file sharing can be a very unique and interesting method. Instead of the traditional copy and paste methods of adding applications or programs from a flash drive to a computer, this method will allow anyone and everyone with proper information, access to these same files from the internet. These files can be retrieved with ease because it can be accomplished without having to plug in or hook anything up beforehand.

Cloud Computing services are helping many small businesses thrive due to the convenience and of course, efficiency, Cloud computing also offers numerous amount of benefits that are guaranteed to make any business more money. Time is money so if there is something that can make your business run more efficiently, than it will be making your business more money. When searching to see what cloud computing providers Manhattan had to offer for one of my clients' business, this is what I learned about the benefits of cloud marketing services.

What are the benefits to cloud marketing services?

It is Faster?

One of the benefits includes having the ability to be able to meet business commands in a quick manner due to the flexibility of the cloud. Instead of taking up all of the bandwidth within a server, you will be able to take up about half of the space, while delivering demands in an instant.

Disaster Recovery:

Another wonderful perk about this timeless method is that you can finally kiss all of your advanced disaster recovery file plans goodbye. With the cloud service, you'll finally be able to take care of what issues you need to, in record speed, while getting the job done.

Automatic Updates:

Why should you have to take the time to install all of those important software updates while interrupting your work schedule, when the cloud computing service can do it for you while you work?

Increased Security:

These service suppliers will make sure that their security updates and regular scans are taken care of, so that it won't take up the customers' time, keeping them away from their other duties.

Flexibility:

The best part of all is that you can work from anywhere you want! You don't need to worry about fighting travel, or having to worry if you don't make it to work on time for whatever reason. As long as you have a stable internet connection, you can work from anywhere in the world, hassle free!

Environmentally Friendly Options:

Last but not least, this service is environmentally friendly in the energy consumption department. You can expect to use less than 50% of it's energy in a single usage, while drastically cutting back on carbon emissions.

Author Bio:

Article was written by Sarah Smith. Sources used came from Madison Technology in New York, NY.

It's not uncommon nowadays to see even young children with a cell phone. And with pink phones, Hello Kitty phones and even specific mobile phone plans for kids it seems like children are the target of a lot of marketing too. But should you buy a phone for your child? A recent report stated that three quarters of UK ten year olds owned a mobile phone, so obviously many people think it is appropriate for young kids to own a phone. If you're trying to decide whether or not to get a cell phone for your kid, there are a few things that you need to take into account...

It's Not as Bad as You Think...

Firstly, don't be close minded about the idea. Just because your kid is pestering you for the hundredth time doesn't necessarily mean that getting a phone is a bad idea. There are a lot of advantages. For example, your child will be able to get hold of you any time he or she needs you, and vice versa. They miss the school bus? No problem. When it comes to safety and security having a phone may be a better idea than you think it is. As long as mobile phone use is controlled properly, then there's no reason that having a phone should be anything other than a benefit to you and you kid.

Be Careful with Financing...

Face it, there's a pretty high chance that your kid is going to lose, break, or drop his phone (probably down the toilet). For this reason, it's not only inadvisable that you buy an expensive device, but also think about financing. When you sign up for a phone plan and get a phone included in the contract you are paying for that phone month by month. You kid loses the phone after three months, guess what? You still have to keep paying for it until the end of your contract. No matter what cool hand set your kid might have his eye on, going for something robust and cheap but functional is your best bet.

Make Sure it's Protected...

And that means protected in every way, shape and form. There's no reason to give younger kids access to the internet, and even older ones should have some form of child lock to prevent them accessing unsuitable material. Text messages should be checked regularly to make sure that you always know what's going on. And watch out for the money.

In general, a pay as you go phone is a better idea, particularly for younger kids, since it's far easier to control spending on PAYG. Contract phones can rapidly become billing nightmares with kids, since they're frequently irresponsible about staying on top of calling minute and text message limits. Finally, you might want to consider a special kids contract for the phone.

Many mobile service operators offer special features for phones that will belong to a child, including the ability to limit service to certain hours of the day, meaning that your kid can't use the phone in school or late at night. Having a kid contract might be an easy way of controlling your child's phone habits...

Author Bio:

Phil Turner has two granddaughters who have been hinting that they want pink phones for their birthdays next month.

Monday, April 29, 2013

If you're looking to sell your used iPhone, you're going to have a bit of a problem. One of the great things about smart phones is that they save all your data. All those hundreds of text messages that you've sent and received, all your emails, your contacts, your photos, even the passwords on your favourite web sites or web based email programmes. Selling your iPhone ebay style might seem like a great way to make a little extra cash, and it is. But before you can sell your phone you're going to have to make sure that all that personal data is gone. You don't want whoever buys your phone to get their hands on your embarrassing pictures, or, even worse, your online banking passwords. Fortunately, erasing data from an iPhone is pretty easy, and should just take a few minutes of your time. If you want to make some extra money by selling your old iPhone ebay might be the way to go, just make sure you read and follow the steps below to remove your personal data first...

Make Sure:

Before you do any of this, make absolutely sure that you want to erase all data from your iPhone. Once it's gone, you can't bring it back. Ever. It's a pretty good idea to back up your iPhone on iTunes first, so you'll have an extra copy of all your data. This is especially important if you're selling an old iPhone in order to get a new iPhone, since it will let you reinstall all your data onto your new model. But even if you're not going to get a new iPhone, it's best to back up, just in case, you never know what you might need in the future.

Find the Menus:

To start off with, Just follow the below steps:

Go to the Settings icon on your iPhone, you should find this easily on your home screen.

Under the Settings menu, find “General” and click it, then find the tab that says “Reset” and click it.

Now, You will now be presented with a pretty long list of options, so don't panic. Look for the option that says “Erase All Content and Settings”.

We've warned you before, but we'll say it again. Once you click this button there is no going back, you cannot magically get all your data back again.

If you do not have a back up copy of your iPhone on your computer using iTunes, the data will be gone forever. Back up your phone, just in case.

Once you're absolutely sure that this is what you want to do, then click the button that says “Erase All Content and Settings”.

Confirm:

Now click the red button that says “Erase iPhone.”

You will be asked to confirm the deletion one more time. There is the possibility that you'll be asked for a security PIN at this point.

The default PIN for all iPhones is 0000.

If this doesn't work, try entering the PIN you use for your voice mail, or the PIN given to you with your SIM card by your mobile service operator.

Wait:

Wait for the erase to complete, which may take some time. Your phone will reboot after the process is finished. Once rebooted, your phone should be empty of all personal data, and is ready to be sold.

Author Bio:

“It’s a piece of cake”, says Phil Turner, “to auction your used iPhone. Ebay does everything for you. All you have to do is wait to cash in!”

Sunday, April 28, 2013

The smart phone market is big business these days, and a number of massive multinational corporations are vying the top spot. Whilst Apple are the other main player in the field, many onlookers believe that their offerings are beginning to reduce in quality. It's all very well bringing out lighter, larger capacity items - but how much of their new product range is really revolutionary?

Are Apple's Days Numbered?

Apple used to be the smaller alternative competitor to Microsoft's juggernaut, but in recent times the company has seen its stocks rise to become the number 1 player in the market. Microsoft are expected to fight back, as they begin their assault on the smart phone battlefield - but Apple is still the biggest player in town. However, in recent months Apple's share price has started to fall, and many predict that this is set to continue.

Critics argue relentlessly about why Apple is set to decline, and reasons include stale product offerings which rely too heavily on a loyal customer-base. After all, sometimes when you've been number one for so long, resistance grows and people look for alternatives. Many critics feel this might be starting to happen to Apple.

Android - Racing Ahead of the Pack:

The main winner in all of this is Android. While two long-term rivals battle it out with multi-billion dollar budgets, the open-source platform has continued to grow. Make no mistake, backed by Google's billions - Android is no amateur operation. However, they have managed to capture a decent chunk of the market while offering not only usability and reliability - but FLEXIBILITY as well.

One of the major criticisms of Apple's product line up is that they keep users "locked in" and only able to use devices in a manner deemed appropriate by Apple. If you want to purchase Apps or Mp3s, you've got to use Apple's own store - and you can only buy things that the company have previously "ok'd". This flies in the face of how the consumer electronics market is heading, and Android has managed to capitalize.

How Android is Different:

By offering an open-source platform, Android allows the ability to work together and provide software and support themselves. If you want to make your own Android app, that's fine - you're free to do what you want. Apps are available for free from a number of sources. Although Android does have it's own Marketplace - you aren't forced to use it.

Another great thing about Android - it's not tied to one system or handset provider. That means there's competition involved even amongst Android supporting phones, which drives down prices and allows more people the chance to own one. As you've probably seen, Android phones are normally considerably cheaper than the newest iPhone equivalent. But that's not because they're inferior - many believe Android phones are BETTER.

In school, you have to learn facts and practice skills in less exciting and even boring ways. In front of your computer, puzzle games can make the youth and the old alike combine entertainment with education. Knowledge can be obtained through fun games that inspire people to get involved actively in the learning process.

Puzzle games allow you to flex the muscles of your brain while having fun. Most people who are fond of playing these games are capable of retaining their old skills and mastering some new craft. Playing puzzles and brain games have favorable health benefits.

Sudoku and Number Games:

Studies have shown that playing with numbers are very helpful in maintaining the health of your mental faculties Sudoku is a very entertaining and challenging game that requires you to place the numbers 1 to 9 in blocks. You need to place all the numbers in a set without missing one.

You need to plan ahead to improve your concentrations and hone your memory. The level of difficulty depends on the number of clues. You have to be careful, though. Once you get the hang of it, you are sure to be hooked on this brain teaser.

Crosswords, Word Jumbles, and other Word Games:

This may look traditional for some, but crosswords never fail to provide a regular exercise for your brain. You have to at least solve one puzzle per day. Some clues are very tricky, while some are outright easy.

Verbal language is not the only skill you need to have in order to fill all the blank spaces. You also need to have general information on all subjects. There are sites that offer daily crosswords.

Word jumble games like text twist, word slinger, and scrabble are popular word games for everyone. Typing games to quicken your typing skills are also very helpful to the health of your brain. There are lots of word games in the net for you to enjoy.

Memory Games, Mahjong, and Finding Hidden Objects Games:

You can sharpen your memory by turning to memory game. These games help you think fast. Your capacity to remember the position of the cards is very important as the clock keeps on ticking.

The same is true with mahjong. You have to open all the tiles quickly before you run out of time. Finding hidden objects games widen your alertness and visuals as the objects are strategically hidden in a mish-mash of items.

School education is useful as it provides you with a diploma of information. However, to preserve the health of your brain, you have to complement it with online puzzle games. It pays to have a regular dose of number, word, and memory games that are also relaxing, challenging, and entertaining.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

If it comes as a surprise, Think twice. The Huge impact
of Social Network “Twitter”, like a global consciousness externalized, helps us
see cluster of people (groups) talking about same things, “Trends” and no
algorithm like analyzing music waves can ever see “Gangnam style” flying through
the charts.

Trends:

Obviously, you follow bands, music groups on twitter. It
helps you find the trending music, and songs on twitter.com

Play:

Will let you play, right through the webpage, it has
integration with iTunes, and music services like Rdio, Spotify. Most Amazing
Part, it makes webpage a thinking music player, another layer of real
intelligence and music sense added through an algorithm.

Let us know about your experience with the Twitter Music App for iPhone, so that we can with your suggestions dig more deeper into it, and see how it affects your life, and catches on with you.

Author Bio:

Joshua Logan, is tech-writer. Inspired by the flux in
creativity and technology, he feels, a need of missing art of rhetoric, and
clarifying and simplifying lot of tech jargon, and influencing people to make
right decisions. You can connect with him on Logan.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Playing games online is really exciting and fun especially when you just sit comfortably at home and open your computer. Over the years, there are various games that come and go. Among the different kinds of games, those involving zombies have always been considered as the top favorites.

Although no zombies exist in real life, the challenge of killing these zombies and the excitement that these characters bring to any game can really make you feel as if you are the hero. No wonder there are many avid gamers who are fond of playing zombie games.

Some of the best zombie games of all time include the following:

1.) Resident Evil 4 (2005)

This game has drawn so much attention that it was adapted for a film. Resident 4 is quite popular because of the intense action it provides to its gamers. When you play Resident Evil 4, you need to have surviving skills. The game plot is created with a blend of horror, action and a good story. Apart from that, you also get to use certain weapons to kill zombies and to finish your mission.

2.) Left 4 Dead

Another widely popular zombie game is the Left 4 Dead. Just like other games of this kind, you need to kill zombies. The only difference is that in Left 4 Dead, you are presented with scary and terrifying scenarios like those of horror movies. Because of this, many gamers dub this game as one of their top favorites.

3.) Zombies Ate My Neighbors

There are a lot of zombie games that are now made accessible to gamers. But among the consistent favorites is the Zombies Ate My Neighbors. Compare to other zombie games, this particular game allows you to have a variety of unique set of weapons and strategies in order to kill horror villains. The game is very easy to play but it has the entire zombie and horror elements that you need to play the game with such intensity and action.

4.) Dead Rising

When the game was finally launched in 2006, it became consistently popular. With Dead Rising, you are horded with a lot of zombies that you might end up panicking as if you are real life zombies are ganging up in front of you. With its rich graphics, unique story plot and real life zombie encounters, you will definitely enjoy Dead Rising.

These games are but creations of humans’ imagination. Although zombies do not exist, many people are still interested to have this kind of game. In fact, even in movies zombies are still popular. With the development in gaming technology, there are still a lot of upcoming zombie games that would compete with this list of top zombie games of all time.

Choosing a new computer can be very difficult, especially as the market becomes increasingly saturated with more and more technological companies, all striving to offer you the best deal. However, you need to be wary when buying a new computer because often what seems to be the best deal may in fact not be as good as you think.

There are a number of important things you need to consider before making your purchase, the most important of which are listed below.

1.) Work out the true worth of your ‘bargain’
People are always proud when they get something for a cheaper price than normal, however, with computers; it is not just the initial purchase price you need to consider. Often, the cheaper computers are blank canvasses and you have to spend the extra money, you initially saved, on essential software and hardware anyway.

Don’t be lulled into the false security that low prices can create. Always check exactly what you are getting for your money and then see how this tallies up in comparison to the more expensive models. You may even find it’s worth paying more now, rather than spending the next few weeks working out what you don’t have and buying it anyway.

2.) Don’t be duped by the sales team

Always remember the job of a salesperson is to, essentially, sell you things you don’t need in addition to those things you do need. There will probably be a higher mark up on these add-ons than the actual computer so your salesperson will be doing all they can to encourage you to make the extra purchases.

This is why we are always inundated with special offers and the one-upmanship attitude that manufacturers and suppliers constantly exhibit. Therefore try not to be easily impressed when a salesperson is throwing impressive sounding numbers and technical phrases at you.

The best thing you can do is to have the phrase ‘So what?’ at the forefront of your mind. What do all these figures and words mean to you? How do they help you? You need to make sure all the benefits of the computer are fully clarified, not just its specifications. Then you will be able to make a truly informed decision.

3.) What do YOU need?

Really think about what you need your new computer for, for instance, who will be using it, how much will it be used and will it need to be portable? The majority of computers available on the market will allow you to do pretty much anything these days; however, if you only need a new computer for word processing, browsing the internet and playing games, then you’re probably best off with a low-end machine that won’t cost the earth.

However, if you require more from your machine, you will need to ensure it has all the software, hardware and memory you require. Even though all these things can be added on at a later date, it is better to start out with as much as possible and more often than not, you will also be able to secure a better discount when buying all at once.

4.) Support & maintenance

It is really important to make sure you discuss IT support and maintenance before ever buying a computer. You will always get a warranty but the length of these varies and you should also check what is covered so you know what to expect should something go wrong. There will always be the option for an extended warranty too but many people are not keen to pay the upfront price of these.

You also need to know what the response times are like for support. For instance, if you are self-employed and need your computer for work and something goes wrong, can they have you back up and running in 24 hours, or is it going to take them 24 hours to get back to you. The best option is to buy a computer where you can buy a good service contact and have access to a 24 hour in-person support centre, stocked with people who know what they are talking about!

5.) Research

As with most commercial goods, it is really important to do your research into the brand and the computer itself before making your purchase. For instance, in addition to finding out more information from computer retailer sites, there are also numerous online forums where you will find a huge number of computer geeks taking great pride in slating or recommending the latest computers and brands.

Feel free to post any questions you have in the forums as you’re much more likely to get an honest response in forums than you are in the computer shop. Ultimately, always have your requirements at the forefront of your mind, as well as a top-end budget. This should keep you on track and ensure you choose the most suitable computer.

Author Bio:

James writes for Quintech Computer Support. When not writing about pc services, he can often be found helping friends and family who beg for his technical skills.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Since the release of Windows 8, it has been over two months. Though Microsoft has made many changes on the new operation system, according to an article from eWeek, it doesn't sell well. And still some industry observers agree that Windows 8 is totally a failure. They insist that some new features aren't practical at all. Take Windows 8 password as an example. Opponents claim that once they forgot the Picture Password, it is not easy to get Windows 8 password reset, and also, it is not safer than traditional password at all. Therefore, dose it means that Windows 8 will end up with a failure? Of course not!

Reason 1:Microsoft has just began its fighting

Advertising Age said that Microsoft will spend $1 billion in advertising Windows 8. If you watch TV in USA, you will find that advertisement for Windows 8 is everywhere, just like the advertisement for President Election.Reason 2: Equipments for Windows 8 will be on sale in large scale

It is said that the production of Windows 8 equipment will slowly grow. As a result, there will be 21 million sets in the end of next year, while there are only 3.8 million sets in the end of this year.Reason 3: The professional version of Windows 8 will be released

The first batch of sets is for Windows RT, which is only suitable for computers with ARM processor. At the end of next January, the professional version of Windows 8 will be published to adapt to computers equipped with Intel X 86 processor.Reason 4: Users need time to adapt to the new interface

Since the big changes made on Windows 8 interface, especially the lack of start button and the desktop full of images, users find it hard to get used. While, as time goes by, and with the efforts of publicity from Microsoft, we do believe that users will get familiar with Windows 8.

Actually, the advantages overweight disadvantages in Windows 8. Meanwhile, some disadvantages can be overcome with some tools. For example, just like the Windows Server 2008 password recovery tool, we can also find some software to reset our Windows 8 password now. I do believe that Windows 8 is promising. What do you think?

Author Bio:

I am a computer software expert. And I like making friends. They all like me very much, not only because I am an easy-going man but also because I can solve many computer problems, such as if they want to know Windows password reset I can help them.

There are a lot of important laptop accessories that can improve the whole function of a laptop. In some cases, these accessories should be replaced with the new one. It is very important for people to learn how to replace the laptop accessories in the correct way. This is very vital to avoid any problems or damages on the laptop in the future. In this article, there are several popular accessories and how to replace them with the new one. These accessories are chosen because they are very popular among all computer users. Almost all users have these laptop accessories.

1). Laptop keyboard cover:

This accessory is very popular because it can improve the protection on the laptop. There are a lot of different styles and models of this laptop keyboard cover. Most products are specially designed in order to prevent any scratches or damages on the original laptop keyboard. In some cases, this keyboard cover should be replaced with the new one. This product can tear because of the intensive or excessive use. People can simply open the keyboard cover before replacing it with the new one. However, they have to be very careful when opening this cover. Then, they have to purchase a new keyboard cover. They have to measure the keyboard size before purchasing the new keyboard cover. People can simply attach the new keyboard cover to their laptop keyboard. It is necessary to avoid the use of any water because water can damage the laptop.

2). Laptop power jack:

Laptop power jack is an important part in a laptop. This accessory is very useful to conduct the electricity for the laptop. This power jack is very fragile. It can break off very easily. When this situation happen, people should open their laptop in order to replace the broken power jack with the new one. First, they have to remove the battery back from the laptop. It is vital to unplug the power cord on the wall outlet. Then all screws should be unscrewed in order to open the laptop before removing the hard drive of the laptop. There is a laptop power jack inside the laptop body. This accessory is usually located on the motherboard. Replace the broken power jack with the new one. After replacing it with the new power jack, people can simply put all parts, including the motherboard, hard drive, battery, and any other laptop parts, back to the original condition.

3). Laptop batteries:

Laptop battery is another important part in a laptop. There are many problems that may occur in most laptop batteries. Most batteries can last for at least one year before getting any problems. When people have any problems with their batteries, they should replace them in the correct way. Replacing a laptop battery is not as complicated as what people thought. People can simply remove the old battery with the new one. It is very simple to remove the battery from a laptop. In some laptop models, people can simply press the release button to remove the battery easily.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Very many people look forward to the release of iPhones every time Apple announces an upcoming debut of a new model. Eager consumers are not the only ones enthusiastic about the releases of iPhones. Thieves too. You can easily lose your iPhone to theft cases or damage of some kind. iPhone theft in New York alone went up by 40% following the release of iPhone 5. Other than theft, another danger is getting the device damaged. So, how can one protect his or her iPhone from these?

Install Safety Apps:

There is an app for almost anything, making the iPhone one of the phones with the highest number of target apps. Among the apps, one should never miss to install some safety apps to keep his or her iPhone safe. Install Find My iPhone app. This app can quickly locate a missing device using the GPS system on the phone. That way, you will be able to lock your iPhone remotely and even wipe all your personal data.

Another app, Gadget Trak can snap photos of the person with the phone using its cameras. In October 2012, police in Brooklyn arrested an iPhone thief within an hour using Find My iPhone app.

Since 2007, Americans have spent $5.9 billion to repair damaged iPhone devices. That means that your own clumsiness can lead to the damage of your iPhone. Sometimes it is the nature of your job that puts your phone in danger of damage. As soon as you purchase your iPhone device, you have 30 days to apply for Apple Care, which covers up to two incidents of iPhone device damages including shattered screens, spills and any other unforeseen forms of damage.

Shield the Screen:

The screen is one of those iPhone device parts that can be very difficult to protect. It is prone to scratches and other forms of damage that can occur on the screen. An iPhone case is not enough to protect the screen of the device, but there are screen shields out in the market that are invisible, so you will be able to use your iPhone without having to worry about it getting scratches. "Crystal Clear Screen Protector" is a screen protection product that will keep your device safe from physical damage on the screen.

Purchase an iPhone Case:

There is a wide array of iPhone cases on the market today. Low quality cases may not protect your device from damage, but there are quite a lot of other cases that can protect your iPhone from various kinds of physical damage. Choose tough, sealed and water-light iPhone cases that will provide protection to your iPhone from accidental drops and water damage. Try to explore iphone5 cases with some vendors such as Greatshield.com and others have quite a lot of these cases so you can choose one that is suitable for the exact kind of protection you want to give your iPhone.

Simpson, the author, was one of the first consumers to stand in the long queues to buy his iPhone 5. Since standing on the lengthy and tiring queues, he keeps learning intuitive ways of protecting his precious iPhone device from damage and theft, which he shares with other enthusiasts.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Although it could be argued that almost all 21st century media is a solely digital concern, the physical product still has an intrinsic value, even in today’s market. Look at it this way; the tablet or 'kindle' might have superseded the hardcover as the most convenient means of consuming the latest novel, but that doesn't mean WH Smiths will be going out of business anytime soon does it? Printed media is always going to be sought after. From bands looking for gig flyers and posters to promote their next show or album launch to independent publishers pressing the first run of their new signings latest 'magnum opus', there will always be physical printed media for one reason or another and as such (in the short term at least) there is still room in todays professional and personal markets for the humble computer printer.

But which printer to choose? Below we will examine a range of different printer types (from high end behemoths to more affordable discount models) and the consumables available for each. Hopefully it will help any potential buyers make a more informed decision.

Laser or Inkjet?

It's a 'truth' universally acknowledged that laser printers produce sharper, crisper, clearer text and inkjet printers can offer colour prints with the kind of depth and vividness, just not possible through laser printing. That doesn't necessarily mean that inkjet printers don't produce perfectly useable text or that colour laser printers are surplus to requirements, but there is a vague wisdom to that glib over generalisation. However the primary factor potential buyers will be taking into account will not be the printer’s suitability, but its price.

It can't be denied that laser printers are more expensive than their inkjet counterparts, but this is generally down to the components in the machines themselves. In the long run however, most laser toner cartridges carry FAR more forgiving duty cycles (the amount of pages one cartridge will be able to handle) and thus offer a far greater value for money. It all depends on what you plan to use your printer for and how often you intend to use it.

For those on a budget the inkjet option is by far the most sensible with laser printers only really coming into their own in professional environments where heavy, daily use is a inevitability. Laser Colour printers are certainly not cheap (in terms of the machines themselves and their operational costs) but they are incredibly efficient and offer the kind of turnaround that just wouldn't be possible with inkjet. Of course a larger print shop should (ideally) have both laser and ink printers and price their services accordingly but in many ways it's down to personal preference. Many prefer the sharper, more consistent colours offered by laser and others swear by the depth and photo-realism of inkjet. When it comes to text though, the answer is cut and dry. Any office using inkjet printers for its text based documents is obviously doing something drastically wrong as not only is productivity significantly slowed, inkjet text is liable to smudge and fade over time.

To Colour or not to Colour?

If you're working in a professional print shop then obviously there is no question here, colour is an essential aspect of your business and as such it should be the first thing you consider when selecting your printer. Both inkjet and laser colour printers will operate differently depending on their size. Larger industrial sized printers will generally require separate Cyan, Yellow and Magenta cartridges whereas smaller, self contained models will require only a black cartridge and a 3-in-1 colour cartridge in order to produce full colour printouts. Conventional wisdom suggests the larger the printer, the more 'professional' the results but when it comes to colour printing this is not always the case. So make sure you shop around and really do your research.

It's all in the Name (Which Brand?)

The most visible names in the field are Hewlett Packard, Epson, Samsung, Canon and Lexmark with each company bringing their own bespoke functions, technologies and quirks to the table. HP printers and printer consumables will generally be the most expensive and Lexmark and Samsung will provide products with the largest discount. This is due to the way the products are designed and engineered but there are other factors to take into consideration.

Most modern HP inkjet and toner cartridges have been designed with 'smart-chip' technology, the smart chip being an implementation that sends detailed information to your computer so you can see exactly how many pages worth of ink you have left to use. Other brands meanwhile might provide greater duty cycles or twin and combination packs for a better price or products that are easier to install and replace. It's really all a matter of personal preference.

Author Bio:

Iam Appleton is a copywriter based in the UK who uses an inkjet printer and a variety of discount consumables.

Monday, April 22, 2013

The Internet has become a mainstream means of communication and source of information. These days any serious business from a sole trader to a multinational corporation needs to have a website. Of course creating a site means finding somewhere to host it and this is an important decision. If your Web host is unreliable it reflects badly on your business so it’s vital to spend some time selecting the right provider. There’s plenty of choice when it comes to website hosting, Cape Town and other cities are likely to have many providers so here are some of the things you need to look out for.

Reliability and Speed:

Reliability is perhaps the most important factor; if your website is unavailable you’ve lost a vital part of your company’s operation. If you sell products directly online then this is even more important as all the time it’s down you’ll be losing orders. Internet users tend to have limited patience and if your site is down they’ll seek out a competitor rather than wait for it to come back.

Speed is almost as important. If your site takes too long to load or slows down during times of peak demand then again you’ll lose business as potential customers surf away elsewhere.

Bandwidth:

Bandwidth refers to the amount of traffic – the number of bytes of data – transferred from your site when people access it. Hosting companies often charge for bandwidth so you need to ensure that you understand what you’re paying for. If there’s a monthly limit – usually in gigabytes – make sure that this is going to be enough for your needs. If you’re expecting to see a sudden spike in traffic, as a result of an advertising campaign say, then make sure this won’t push you over your allowance and land you with extra charges.

Even if a host says it offers unlimited bandwidth there will usually be some sort of fair use limitation. Take some time to read the small print of what’s on offer to ensure that you don’t run into any hidden charges. It can sometimes be difficult to foresee bandwidth requirements so a transparent pricing policy will help you to manage your expenditure.

Storage Space:

Most hosts offer packages that have differing amounts of disk space. You may find that you need less than you think, ordinary websites are quite small in size. The only time you’re likely to run into limits is if you’re hosting large numbers of music and video files. Again beware of fair use limits on ‘unlimited storage’ deals that may well trip you up if you exceed them.

Technical Support:

Your website is a key part of your business so you need to be sure you can get support to help you deal with problems. Things often go wrong at the least convenient times so you need to make sure your chosen host offers 24/7 support. Check to see if their support staff members are available on public holidays too.

Scripting and Shopping:

Scripts are often used on websites to implement specific features, visitors’ books for example. Some hosting providers won’t allow you to install scripts without their permission so check to see if this is the case. It will slow down the implementation of a new site if you have to wait for the host’s approval before you can roll out changes.

If you’re planning on selling directly from your website then you need to ensure that the host supports SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) to allow you to collect payments safely. Also find out if you’re restricted to using their shopping cart facility or if you can implement your own.

These are the key considerations but there are others too and it’s always worth checking reviews left by other users or asking the company if you can talk to some existing customers before you sign up.

Author Bio:

Jann Webb is a freelance writer and former Web designer and recommends comparing several options for website hosting, Cape Town and other major cities should offer plenty of choice.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

The race to find the best mobile operating system is heating up. With the evolution of the app ecosystem, people have begin to list the apps available before choosing the OS suitable for them. For now, Blackberry is the one that it's lagging behind every other since it was a late comer, launching just months back. But, there are yet to release platforms such as the Ubuntu mobile OS, Jolla Sailfish and even the one from the browser giant, Firefox OS.

Today, we take a look at some of the best apps available for the Windows Phone 8 platform:

Instant messaging has been to a different level with this brilliant app. Whatapp allows you to share Photos, Videos, Audio and even Contact info with your beloved friends and family. The app is equipped with a huge lot of emoticons which aid you to express your reactions clearly.

The services offered by Google are always inevitable. The quality of their service is so great that cannot be expressed in words. Though there is Bing search pre-installed, people can have a taste of Google with the simply built Google Search app. It is similar in the case of maps, Nokia maps (rebranded later as Here Maps) is just superb, especially for the Indian customers. But Google search is something special. It even provides you with live features such as the traffic details and also the travel routes more precisely. Even though Google’s official Maps app is not yet available for the platform, “Gmaps” comes with all the features that Google could offer.

As you know, Twitter let's you find the trending news on the web. This app for Windows Phone is so beautifully crafted to even display real time search results, tweets, share photos and more. You can even create a twitter account if you don't have one.

The future is the cloud and so the Skydrive from Microsoft does the same. It lets you store any kind of file from your PC or mobile on theorem cloud servers and lets you seamlessly access your files at the time of need from any device. What's more? Microsoft even provides free extra storage space for its Windows Phone users.

Every computer expert will tell you to backup early and often. However, sometimes there is insufficient space to backup and store all the data. Accidents happen and one loses data in a hard drive crash, which can be catastrophic when one is in the middle of a vital assignment. Sometimes your computer is stolen or the office burns down. We never really know what life has got in store for us, which is why data storage is crucial.

Cloud Backups:

Cloud backup is the name for data and information being stored in a secure data centre via internet. These data centres could be in any remote location in the world. Cloud storage takes away some of the stress about storage away from the individual who no longer needs to overprotect the device in which the data is stored. With cloud backups, the data is protected from accidental or intentional damage. Several issues come into play when considering the use of cloud backups. It is important to know how the service works, its limitation and its effects on the running of your enterprise.

Protect Against Leaks:

Among the major concerns for most organisations is data security. Data protection is absolutely paramount for individuals and, in the case of businesses, data leaks can have very serious repercussions indeed. For example, leaked customer contacts from a database could spammed with unnecessary mails or credit information used for other forms of cyber crimes. Files should be heavily encrypted before leaving the onsite storage. Encryption should be at least 256 bit or higher. Always ensure the service provider states their security policy before you begin to consider engaging their services in storing your data.

Know Your Limits:

Most of the service providers limit the sizes of data they can store by price; so your storage allowance depends on how much you pay. When deciding your cloud backup plan, take into consideration the size of your data and the quantity that is generated at a particular period of time. Check whether your provider can increase the available space if needed and at what cost. Some providers will limit the size of individual files, so be wary of such restrictions especially if you store large files such as videos.

A few service providers will limit the amount of data that can be uploaded or downloaded at any given time. Most of them will not. However, it is vital to know their policy so as to avoid the risk of being unable to access your information as quickly as possible in cases of damage to onsite storage. Initial uploads sometimes take quite some time. This is partly due to bandwidth limitation and partly due to the size of uploading files.

Access All Areas?

Consider whether the service provider allows you to access your files from other computers other than your basic computer. Web enabled access is convenient as one can access their files from any internet enabled device by logging into the providers website. You could download that bill, spreadsheet or statement way from office or home. If you would like to have automatic file upgrades, check whether the provider has software that monitors file changes. Otherwise, you would be forced to manually back up your files.

Final Considerations:

Where none catastrophic data losses are involved, it is often easier to restore data from a local storage in comparison to a cloud backup, so it is worth remembering this when assessing your cloud backup requirement. Another thing to bear in mind, especially if you pay per gigabyte or monthly, is reduplication services. Reduplication minimises the amount of data being stored because where similar files exist, it indicates the specific location of the data, rather than performing a double backup of your data. Overall it is clear that, wherever possible, it is prudent to have an online backup solution in place. It might cost more but in the long term it could save your business.

Author Bio:

This article on cloud backups was written on behalf of Securstore who offer many online backup solutions for businesses and individuals.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Anyone who owns a computer these days at some point will probably need to find and engage a computer support service. Computer issues can occur randomly, when it suddenly freezes, slows down to a snail's pace or will not turn on at all.

Computer Support:

Computer support comes in many forms. Some professionals deal primarily with repair, while others offer maintenance plans. Other kinds of computer support can involve receiving advice on choosing and purchasing systems while also seeing that they are updated and properly maintained.

Choosing Customer Support Services:

There are numerous companies available that provide computer support services. For the average computer or small business owner, this can present a challenge when it comes to choosing the right one for their particular needs. Unfortunately, there are a number of rogue firms that are seeking to capitalize on the technical ignorance of consumers. However, following the below tips can make it easier to choose a service that will provide what is needed and eliminate some of the headaches that can occur by dealing with a computer support firm that is unsuitable.

Local or Corporate:

The best way to avoid computer problems is to engage a computer support company that will ensure that the system is properly maintained. However, choosing a firm for that purpose can be daunting. There are advantages to hiring a local company or professional above the big box companies that include:

Higher levels of availability.

More accountability for services.

Better pricing structures.

In home repair services save time and money.

Because a smaller firm relies heavily upon repeat business, they are usually more likely to value their customers. In this way, they make a great effort to ensure that customers are pleased with their services, often more than a larger firm.

Qualifications:

Regardless of whom is chosen as the computer support firm, ensure that their qualifications are clear. Look for reviews and ask for customer referrals. Any reputable professional should be able to provide this. If not, this could be a sign that either they lack experience or have had issues about their services in the past.
Check forums, review sites, the BBB and use the search engines. Ensure that no cautionary tales exist about their service caliber and that they have sufficient experience to handle your particular requirements.
Ensure that the professional to be hired offers a guarantee and that you understand the parameters of the guarantee.

For example, if there is a timeline, ask what happens if the time period is exceeded by just a few days. A reputable shop will accommodate and cover repairs that fall slightly outside of the service guarantee period.

Costs:

One of the most important aspects of ensuring that no mishaps occur with regard to computer support services is to have a budget in mind. Research the services you are interested in for your area so that you have some idea of what to expect. Otherwise, a price quote may easily exceed what your business is able to comfortably pay.

There are literally millions of issues that can occur through the lifecycle of a computer. Much of the time, it makes more sense to have the system maintained by a computer support professional on a regular basis, rather than risk the need for repair.

Even still, repairs also become necessary. In those cases, having an affiliation with a professional ahead of time will mean less downtime for the business. Keeping in mind that downtime costs revenue, the investment made in computer support services is well worth the expense.

Author Bio:

Tony is a managed it services Austin tech. When he's not working on making sure computers don't take over the world and cause caos, he's fishing over at the Guadalupe river just south of Austin, TX.

Friday, April 19, 2013

You may have heard the term “Cloud computing” and wondered what it meant. Savvy IT professionals are aware that cloud computing refers to a system of servers that gives people access to computer services over a network, such as the Internet.

Cloud computing is taking off because organizations are realizing the many benefits it provides, including saving money on hardware and software, lowering the burden on IT department personnel and enabling companies to back up their vital data safely and securely. In fact, cloud computing services are expected to generate almost 14 million jobs across the world by 2015, with many of these jobs coming from small-to-medium sized businesses, according to the IDC report “Cloud Computing’s Role in Job Creation.” What’s more, cloud computing could produce up to $1.1 trillion in revenue every year by 2015. Remote Backups and Disaster Recovery:If your company does not routinely make offsite backups of its vital data, what will you do in the face of a catastrophic hard drive crash? While prudent managers will at least set up extra servers to back up data locally, it’s important to maintain offsite backups as well, in case of a natural disaster, extended power failure, theft or other problems.Cloud computing makes it easy to make multiple backup copies of your data, which you can then access via the Internet to recover information during a disaster. While your competitors are struggling to regain power and reconstruct their databases, you can quickly restore your important files by accessing them via the cloud. Even if you have to evacuate the premises, such as during a severe weather event, your employees can use laptops or smart phones to access data via the cloud from a hotel, coffee shop or their office at home, thanks to cloud computing.Save Money on Software and IT Services:Organizations find that they can save money on software and IT services by taking advantage of cloud computing services. For example, instead of purchasing expensive licenses for a suite of office applications or a particular database program for your entire workforce, you can use software as a service (SaaS) on an as-needed basis. The software is always available via the cloud, and your employees access it through a standard web browser. Your IT department won’t have to worry about updating software or applying security patches, as the cloud computing service provider’s IT department will take care of this task for you. You can also purchase access to encrypted server storage space from a cloud services provider whenever you need it. Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting helps companies save money, as they don’t need to try to plan ahead and purchase additional server space for local use. Access Data While on the Go:Does your organization rely on travelling sales people and marketing specialists to drum up new business? If so, these employees are going to be on the road quite frequently. Instead of trying to bring copies of all necessary files with them on their laptops, they can access your company’s data securely via cloud computing. When a salesperson develops a lead, he can input the data on his device while out in the field, and the information will be instantly accessible to everyone in your organization’s headquarters via the cloud. Imagine updating important documents that everyone in your company needs to access quickly and reliably. For example, have you changed the terms of your standard contracts? Your legal department can put the updated files in the cloud so that employee will always be able to access the latest versions. After examining the benefits of cloud computing, many people will want to consider implementing it for their own organizations. Whether you use cloud computing just to keep safe backups in an offsite location or rely on it for fast and reliable access to inexpensive software as a service, this technology is designed to make your organization work more efficiently and save your money. Cloud computing can give you a boost over your competitors, and that’s reason enough to begin implementing it to some degree at your firm.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

The Age of the Internet:The internet has had a dramatic effect on the way most of us choose and buy a wide variety of products. Just a few years ago, our preferred method of shopping is likely to have been to pay a visit to our local shops, or, if we were looking to make a special purchase, probably to venture into a nearby city, or to an out-of-town shopping centre, where the biggest outlets with the widest choice of products could be found.That idea has been strongly challenged in recent times, as most of us become ever-more accustomed to looking for what we want to buy online. For major purchases especially, we are happy to scour the internet to find the cheapest prices available.But how many people, when they do this, give much thought to where the websites on which they find the best prices are run from, and therefore, how far their goods will have to travel to reach them when they finally click on that 'Buy Now' button. My guess would be very few. We have become so intent on tracking down the best possible price for the precise product we want, that little thought is given to how it will eventually reach us after we take that split-second decision to make a purchase from a particular website.Buying Online creates convenience:From the buyer's point of view, shopping online breaks new boundaries in convenience, because it means we can compare products for all the criteria which we can possibly consider when we buy, and then look for the outlet which offers the product we find best meets our needs at the lowest possible price. And yet, when we do this, apart from exceptional occasions when a website will publish its full registered address, most of us will give little or no thought to where our goods will be shipped from, and therefore the task which lies ahead for the delivery company which will ensure that those goods, ordered in a fraction of a second, in turn reach us safely and in the shortest time possible.This convenience is, of course, a compelling reason why so many of us now choose to shop for many of the things we buy online. But conversely, businesses of course are always looking out for locations from where they can operate while incurring the lowest possible overheads.As a result, a company can have as many 'shop fronts' as possible, yet its online operation could equally be run from relatively unassuming premises, well away from the locations of these prestigious shop windows. Companies which already have large-scale premises which are used for storage of their products before they are sent out to their stores may, therefore, have a strong advantage over purely web-based companies when it comes to operating the online arm of their business.But in truth, the motivation for shopping online is so strongly skewed towards seeking out the lowest possible price for the products that we want to buy, that the vast majority of shoppers won't care whether their goods are picked off the shelves of a posh flagship store, or come from a dingy warehouse operated from an industrial estate – provided they reach them safely, and in a reasonable time-frame.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Home based business opportunities and franchise opportunities are at a hike. The increasing demand of work for less pay is making more and more to opt for independent sources of income that would allow them to learn while on the job or out of job. As there are many options of home based businesses it is important to identify a valid and trust worthy source that would be 100% risk free.

Here are Few tips to help identify a legitimate home based business opportunity:

Businesses that are started through experiential learning are certainly worth listening to. As they are real life people who have faced real time situations, they would be able to provide a platform that is not overwhelming and is definitely promising.

Sharing of information that would help a person focus on home based business in a general sense is another way of assessing the validity of the business. If a particular business is focused on only promoting themselves the results would remain the same. Some businesses however link their service with an aim to empower people with knowledge on finding the right resources.

Provide flexible options of working part-time or offer trail opportunities can be trusted. As they are confident about their services they provide a time for the new entrant without overpowering their idea of being a part of this highly rewarding business line.

Businesses that extend support in terms of helping through the start up process and providing constant guidance would be a legitimate source of a home based business opportunity.

Social presence of the business is another aspect that can help to understand their stance in the market and their ranking among the competitors. The higher they are ranked the better are the prospects of earning.

Reviews and testimonials are other sources of information that not only inspire but also provide an insight into the way the entire business operates. As most that have become successful do leave a note behind, it helps as a great boost for those who are contemplating about choosing the home based business opportunity.

Discussion forums, video lectures and data sharing are a few other facilities that home based business providers extend for the benefit of the entrant.

A website is also a way of analyzing the impact the business has when compared to other opportunities. The website should have constant updates with valid information that would support the business that is being promoted.

Discussing various options to choose from that have a higher pay out through forums and blogs would also help in analyzing the best home based business opportunities.

Training material in support to the product or service is another way of checking the validity of the business opportunity. If the business is investing in training someone they aim to experience a result oriented business.

There are many helpful websites that provide a review on each of the legitimate home based business opportunities and their success ratio. This would also provide an insight into the benefit that one can make if a particular online opportunity is taken up.

Author Bio:

Claudia Martinez is an expert content writer who writes for several blogs and websites including business and home based business blogs.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Before I begin creating a content strategy or analysing the existing content in a website, I try to get as clear as I can about who is in my target audience. If you're thinking that your website should appeal to everyone in the entire world, you haven't narrowed things down enough yet. Trying to reach everyone is not only impossible, it can make it a lot harder to reach the people who matter most.

If you work for a big company or an organisation, you probably want to start this process by talking with people in the marketing department, the sales team, customer support; these folks have thought a lot about the audience. But if you are working with a smaller company, you may need to do some of this research yourself and help identify the best audience to target with the content you are going to create.

Either way, the tips and suggestions in this article are designed to help you appreciate why getting as specific as you can about your audience, can help ensure that your content is effective and well received by the right people. Here are a few of the characteristics to consider as you define your target audience. The first one is demographics. That's a big word that represents many things to many people, but it's generally used to mean things like gender, race, age, mobility--whether somebody is in a wheelchair or they are a marathon runner--economic status, employment status, location--meaning where they live, if it's an urban or rural setting-- those kinds of things.

As you identify your target audience, you may also want to consider some more specific elements, like language requirements, what education level or reading level they are likely to have, whether they've ever used a computer before or they are very experienced with computers. If you are developing a website for people who are gamers, for example, you can probably assume a high level of experience-- other audiences, maybe not so much. Similarly, computer equipment and bandwidth can affect not only usability issues, but what kind of content you create, whether you can have multimedia and other formats. So all of that comes into identifying how you decide what kind of content, things like what reading level you're going to write for, what formats to use, again, whether you are going to use video or animations.

Does your audience have the bandwidth to support that? And again what languages to use, what cultural references and things like that. So the more specific you get on that demographic information, the more you identify what kind of audience, the more informed you are as you start to make decisions like these. For example, if I'm designing a website for veterinarians I would probably use far more sophisticated vocabulary than I would use for pet owners. I will give you an example of that at the end.

But before I do, the more specific you can get about your audience, the better. So what else can we learn about our example pet owners? Again, much of it comes down to asking the right questions. Are the customers of big commercial ranchers with herds and pigs and cows, or are they city dwellers, more likely to have companion pets such as cats, dogs, fish and birds? Also consider what you might know about your own community and do some research on what other people know about your community. If our example was in Silicon Valley, California, you'd probably know you are in the heart of the dotcom world, and you could probably assume that most of your audience was computer savvy and had relatively high bandwidth.

If you were on Miami Beach in South Florida, a little research might reveal that most people who live on South Beach live in high-rise condos, and most of those condos restrict their residents to pets that weigh no more than thirty pounds. That kind of detail can help you determine, for example, that you might want more content about small dogs than big ones. As you research your audience keep asking yourself, what makes my visitors different from everyone else in the world? Some designers go so far as to create what they call user personas. User personas give specific examples of what key customer types might be like. Having a specific user persona with a name and a back story can help you humanise demographics.

So for example, we might create Michaela, a 10-year-old girl who has her first puppy and can't wait to train it to do tricks. But even then, remember that we might be marketing to her parents more than to her. Other user personas might be someone like George, a small business owner who dotes on his white cockatoo that he keeps in his office. Creating user personas can be fun, but I have to warn you: as helpful as it can be to personify your audience, creating user personas can become a distraction all by itself. If you are working on a pet site and you find yourself imagining what paint colours your customers might choose for their dining room, you're probably getting a little too specific with your user personas.

As a content strategist, you should know that lots of marketing people, user interface designers, and others love creating user personas. And many writers find it extremely helpful to have a specific person in mind as they write. Just don't get too bogged down at this stage in the process. Ultimately, I recommend you define at least the basic characteristics of your audience and you use those to guide the content development. For our pet site example, let's assume we've done some research. We've interviewed a few people, we've studied the demographics of our neighbourhood, and we've come up with the following.

Our audience is made up of urban professionals. We don't have to get more specific than that, but we could. Our target language is going to be English. We may want to change that in the future, but for now, that's what we've identified. We are going to assume most of them have at least some college education, based on where they live, that they are relatively computer savvy, and that they are most likely visiting our website on a desktop computer, although increasingly we're seeing traffic on smart phones and tablets, and that will also influence some of our content development.

Sometimes you need to target very specific content to something like a smart phone. Once we agree that our website is for urban pet owners and not veterinarians for example, then we can start to agree that we should use simpler vocabulary, not big fancy scientific terms.

Author Bio:

Sadhiv Mahandru has been involved in online marketing for over a decade covering PPC, Affiliate Marketing, SEO, Content Creation and also creating effective websites. Providing SEO & Web Design and offering these services throughout the UK. You can also learn more about Internet Marketing and SEO by reading my own blog which is updated frequently.